CD Review: New Live Release From Dennis Coffey Comes From Detroit In 1968

American guitarist Dennis Coffey has worked alongside such greats as Del Shannon, Diana Ross and The Temptations. He discovered folk/rock singer Sixto Rodriguez, the subject of the film "Searching For Sugar Man," and introduced a hard rock guitar sound to Motown Records. His last self-titled studio album was released in 2011, but Resonance Records is reviving his career with a live album from the Motown guitar legend on January 13, 2017.

 

The new album titled "Hot Coffey In The D" was recorded live at the Morey Baker's Showplace Lounge in Detroit, Michigan in 1968. It predates his debut solo album by one year and features the trio of Coffey on guitar, Lyman Woodard on Hammond B-3 organ and Melvin Davis on drums. The new seven-song release begins with the eight-minute original titled "Fuzz" and showcases Coffey's amazing guitar work as he leads the Lyman Woodward Trio on a sonic journey of solos. This live recording includes smooth instrumental jazz renditions of Burt Bacharach's "The Look Of Love" and Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage." The set closes with Coffey's guitar leading the way on the southern blues rock of "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)" and the funk-fueled "Wade In The Water," highlighted by Woodard's organ performance. 

 

This new release comes with a 56-page, full-color booklet that includes a new essay from Zev Feldman and a few Q&As with Dennis Coffey and Melvin Davis from July 2016. The cover art is an original drawing from Detroit native Bill Morrison, who is best known as an illustrator for The Simpsons cartoon. To find out more about Dennis Coffey and his latest release "Hot Coffey In The D," please visit denniscoffeysite.com.